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Your Unofficial Guide to Kyrgyz Republic

Your Unofficial Guide to Kyrgyz Republic

You are probably curious about some things before visiting Kyrgyz Republic. Let's start with some interesting facts.

Three routes of the Great Silk Road used to go through territory of the modern Kyrgyz Republic

The Kyrgyz Republic's Lake Issyk-Kul is the second largest mountain lake in the world behind Lake Titicaca in South America, 10th largest in the world by the volume, and second largest saline lake after the Caspian Sea. And it looks like a human eye from space.

There are over 2,000 lakes and more than 40,000 rivers in the Kyrgyz Republic.

The Kyrgyz Republic's Arslanbob is the largest single natural source of walnuts on Earth.

The Kyrgyz Pobeda Peak is called the toughest 7,000+ m peak in the world.

Mercbacher Lake in the Kyrgyz Republic is one of the most famous 'disappearing' lakes in the world. It appears every summers and goes away in August.

Mountains cover more than 75% of the country's territory.

Now you still probably have a lot of questions. Don't worry, we are here to help.

When is the best time to visit the Kyrgyz Republic?It depends on what you would like to do — winter activities? It’s November to March. To enjoy summer? June to August. Springtime sun? April to May. Autumn colors? September to October.

I don’t know Kyrgyz or Russian, is that a problem?If you speak English, you should not have any difficulties.

How about temperatures in your country?The average January temperature is -4°C to -14°C, the average July temperature is between +17°C and +38°C.

What should I wear?Wintertime — a warm jacket, gloves and thick socks. You can buy everything in Kyrgyz Republic as well. Autumn and spring — waterproof footwear if you plan lots of outdoor activities, summer — light trousers, shorts, tee-shirts and etc.

What should I do in case of an emergency?Call 112 or: 101 for fire, 102 for police, 103 for ambulance (136, 151, 139 — commercial ambulance), 104 for gas leaks, and 161 for rescue service free of charge.

What documents do I need to enter the Kyrgyz Republic?You need a valid national passport. And you might also need a visa. Kyrgyz Republic is visa-free for 62 countries. Check your country here.

What are the common shopping hours?Most shops are open till 6 pm or 9 pm Mon to Fri and some close earlier on weekends. Larger supermarkets and malls are open until 9 pm and some work 24/7.

What credit cards are accepted in the Kyrgyz Republic?Master Card, VISA and VISA Electron are accepted in hotels, restaurants, larger shops, and department stores.

How late are bars and night clubs open?Most bars close at 12:00 am to 1:00 am. Night clubs close at around 5 am.

What is the legal drinking age in the Kyrgyz Republic?The sale of alcohol to anyone under 18 years is illegal.

What currency does the Kyrgyz Republic have?It's KGS or Kyrgyz som, it's currently around KGS 70 per $1.

What are average prices for accomodation, transportation and meals?Night at a hotel — around KGS 3,000Night at a hostel — KGS 500 to 2,000Taxi — KGS 60 for boarding and KGS 10 per each kmPublic transportation (buses and 'marshrutkas') — KGS 8-12Restaurant meal — KGS 300 to 1,500

What is a wall socket type and voltage?European wall socket and 220V.

What local apps do I need to download? Bus.kg — public transportation routes2GIS — best local mapping service